So near yet so far, stronger from defeat, two months later Cho Daeseong wins in Shanghai

01 Nov 2016

Two months earlier on the ITTF World Junior Circuit in Chinese Taipei, it had been so near yet so far for Korea’s Cho Daeseong; on Saturday 29th October at the 2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge, life was different.

The young man, who celebrated his 14th birthday earlier in the month on Thursday 13th October, won the Boys’ Singles event.

At the Chinese Taipei Junior and Cadet Open he had been beaten in the final of the Junior Boys’ Singles event by the host nation’s Huang Chien-Tu (12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5); one hour earlier on the afternoon of Sunday 28th August, he had experienced the same fate when confronting Tai Ming-Wei, also from Chinese Taipei (11-8, 11-2, 13-11).

In Shanghai, it was a very different experience.

“Actually, I’m not in my best form today, that’s why I didn’t win this easily. I have to win today’s final, even if the opponent is my teammate, I will try my best, and I want to get the gold medal”, Cho Daeseong after beating Vladimir Sidorenko

“I had a strong belief in myself in this match. My opponent is also my teammate. He is powerful and has a strong backhand, so it was a difficult match. In the final, I’ll face another teammate, but I’m ready to win the title”, Yuka Uda after beating Yanapong Panagitgun

Success for Cho Daeseong who becomes only the second ever Korean to win the Boys’ Singles title at an ITTF World Cadet Challenge tournament; the other player to achieve the feat is Jang Woojin who won in 2008 in Hyderabad, India.

“I didn’t expect I’ll win the final but I was better at handling the crucial moments. Uda wasn’t fully focused at the beginning of this match, so I had the opportunity”, Cho Daeseong after the final

Notably, once again it was success for Asia; the only non-Asian player to win the title is Frenchman Romain Lorentz, he won in 2008 in Helsingbörg, Sweden.